Photographer Pays Tribute To Super Old Dogs By Giving Them Stunning Self-Portraits

Photographer honors old dogs with beautiful portraits.

Photographer Pete Thorne might not be able to teach old dogs new tricks, but he can certainly snap their photos.

For the project "Old Faithful," the Toronto-based shutterbug shot a series of over 50 studio portraits of really old dogs that highlight the intense feelings (wo)man's best friend inspire in us as they age.

Many of the dogs are blind or deaf or both. In order to capture the perfect shot, Thorne has the owners bring treats and toys. But he's found the real trick is to direct the owners and the dogs will follow.

Most of the photos include a bio or testimonial, which just adds to project's powerful effect.

Above all else, Thorne's project proves what most dog owners already know: Puppies are fun, but old dogs are the best.

Here's a look at a few of Thorne's most powerful portraits from "Old Faithful."

Hogarth

Mance

"Mance is a 13yr Old English Bulldog, a breed close to my heart. He has bone cancer that adds a lot of character to his face. He's in a pretty fragile state so I made my first trip out of the home studio to photograph him, in all his asymmetrical charm."

Clovis

Bodley

"After deciding to adopt a dog, I found Bodley, a Boxer and Staffordshire Terrier mix, using Petfinder.com at an animal shelter in Keswick. He had been abandoned and was almost skeletal when he was brought in. Though given some warning that Bodley didn't like men and would destroy my apartment, I paid no heed andbrought Bodley home almost 10 years ago. He loves men. He loves the couch. And he loves baked goods (which I must keep locked away or he uses his above average cunning to open cupboards, and reach amazing heights for a tasty treat).

Now, at the age of 12(ish) Bodley has slowed down considerably. We no longer chase squirrels, only hunt them down with intense staring. Though his arthritis limits his flexibility, it does not limit his enthusiasm for walks and exploration through brown crunchy leaves. His eyes might be weakening, but there is nothing wrong with his nose which still can sniff out a delicious discarded pizza crust at 20 feet."